Nick Clegg has taken a hit in an exclusivenew poll at the start of the critical Eastleigh by-election campaign.

Research by Ipsos MORI found the
Liberal Democrats down to their lowest national share since April 1990, and
their leader’s personal ratings taking a dip.

It comes on the day David Cameron hit the
by-election trail for the first time, with Boris Johnson set to follow on
Wednesday.

Mr Clegg, currently in Mozambique, pledged
to return to the Hampshire seat as soon as he flies home. He poured scorn on
the idea the Mayor could swing voters. “I genuinely contest this idea that
people in Eastleigh are going to vote as if it is a sort of celebrity contest.

The Coalition’s junior partners are
bookies’ favourites to hold disgraced ex-minister Chris Huhne’s seat in a
neck-and-neck battle against the Conservatives. But the new poll is a blow.

The nationwide Political Monitor survey
found the Lib Dems down one point to seven per cent when people were asked who
they would back in a general election.

Nigel Farage’s Ukip was two points ahead
of the Lib Dems on nine per cent.

Labour was leading with a 12-point lead
over the Conservatives, on 42 per cent (down one point since January) to the
Tories’ share of 30 per cent, which was unchanged.

The proportion of people satisfied with
the way Mr Clegg was doing his job fell in a month from 28 to 24 per cent,
while the percentage who were dissatisfied rose from 61 to 64.

Gideon
Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI said: “This is the second
month in a row that we’ve seen the Liberal Democrats in fourth place, at their
lowest for 23 years – while the other big political events of the month don’t
seem to have changed support for the other parties ”

Labour leader Ed Miliband had the highest
net satisfaction score, with 34 per cent satisfied and 45 dissatisfied. Premier
David Cameron was second with 34 per cent satisfied and 58 dissatisfied.

Optimism about the economy has not changed
on balance since January. Some 22 per cent think the economy will improve over
the next year and 44 per cent think it will get worse, while 30 per cent think
it will be unchanged.